| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/L37335/01 |
| Title: |
QUANTUM MECHANICS OF ATOMS CONFINED TO TWO-DIMENSIONAL MOTION |
| Principal Investigator: |
Loudon, Professor R |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
University of Essex |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 1997 |
Ends: |
31 March 1999 |
Value (£): |
81,027
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Developments in abstract quantum field theory show that novel effects occur in physical systems subjected to a certain form of interaction energy, the so-called Chern-Simons interaction. We have recently shown that an experimentally-realisable example is provided by trapped atoms confined to a two-dimensional space by a suitable configuration of electromagnetic fields. The proposed research will investigate the nature of the confined atomic states and determine the interaction of single atoms with probe light beams, particularly with a view to observing their predicted half-integer orbital angular momenta. The modification of the single-atom properties by the collective effects that occur with many atoms in the trap will be calculated. The detailed experimental parameters needed to achieve the confinement will be evaluated. The atomic calculations will be extended to study the confinement of charged systems. The results will be employed both to deepen the understanding of the abstract Chern-Simons theory in terms of the specific physical example and to evaluate the potential of the confined atoms in applications such as quantum computing.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.sx.ac.uk |